SCIENCE FILE | Science in Brief

New Drug Reduces Risk of Infections in AIDS Patients

People in advanced stages of AIDS who commonly suffer from cytomegalovirus, an infection that can lead to blindness and even death, can significantly reduce the risk with a new drug called Cytovene or ganciclovir. The virus infects about 50% of adults in the United States in their lifetimes, and 90% of those who have AIDS. Among those with compromised immune systems, the virus can seriously harm eyesight and even cause life-threatening illness.

Researchers led by Dr. Stephen Spector of UC San Diego report in today's New England Journal of Medicine that advanced AIDS patients who received 1,000 milligrams of ganciclovir three times daily were 50% less likely to develop the disease over the course of a year.